US20240061377A1 - Horological regulating member with balance spring provided with pressure-compensating means - Google Patents

Horological regulating member with balance spring provided with pressure-compensating means Download PDF

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Publication number
US20240061377A1
US20240061377A1 US18/450,028 US202318450028A US2024061377A1 US 20240061377 A1 US20240061377 A1 US 20240061377A1 US 202318450028 A US202318450028 A US 202318450028A US 2024061377 A1 US2024061377 A1 US 2024061377A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
regulating member
member according
resilient
strip
external pressure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
US18/450,028
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English (en)
Inventor
Gianni DI DOMENICO
Baptiste HINAUX
Mohammad Hussein KAHROBAIYAN
Jean-Luc Helfer
Pascal Winkler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Swatch Group Research and Development SA
Original Assignee
Swatch Group Research and Development SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Swatch Group Research and Development SA filed Critical Swatch Group Research and Development SA
Publication of US20240061377A1 publication Critical patent/US20240061377A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B17/00—Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/04—Oscillators acting by spring tension
    • G04B17/06—Oscillators with hairsprings, e.g. balance
    • G04B17/066—Manufacture of the spiral spring
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B17/00—Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/20—Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/24—Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency for the effect of variations of atmospheric pressure
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B17/00—Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/04—Oscillators acting by spring tension
    • G04B17/06—Oscillators with hairsprings, e.g. balance
    • G04B17/063—Balance construction
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B17/00—Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/04—Oscillators acting by spring tension
    • G04B17/045—Oscillators acting by spring tension with oscillating blade springs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B17/00—Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/20—Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/22—Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency for the effect of variations of temperature
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B17/00—Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/20—Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/22—Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency for the effect of variations of temperature
    • G04B17/222—Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency for the effect of variations of temperature with balances

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a regulating member having a balance spring and provided with pressure-compensating means.
  • the invention further relates to a horological movement comprising such a regulating member.
  • the balance spring constitutes the time base of the watch. It is also referred to as a resonator or regulating member.
  • an inertial element, a guide and an elastic return element are required in order to constitute a regulating member.
  • a balance spring acts as a resilient return element for the inertial element constituted by a balance. This balance is guided rotationally by pivots, which generally turn in ruby plain bearings.
  • a frequency is chosen for the mechanical resonator, and is determined in order to obtain a predefined rate for the horological movement.
  • such a mechanical resonator can be subject to interference caused by changes in external parameters, which lead to variations in the frequency of the resonator. These parameters are, for example, the temperature, pressure, humidity or gravity.
  • the variation in the frequency of the resonator results in an error in the measurement of time and thus in the rate of the horological movement.
  • the document CH 704687 describes a regulating member comprising a balance spring and a member for correcting the position of the balance-spring stud to correct the deformations of the balance spring due to temperature.
  • any regulating member provided with compensation means configured to compensate for variations in ambient pressure.
  • the regulating member loses in precision, since the difference in pressure modifies the aerodynamic friction of the regulating member.
  • an increase in pressure causes a decrease in the oscillation frequency of the regulating member.
  • the purpose of the present invention is to overcome some or all of the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a horological regulating member having a balance spring provided with pressure-compensating means that are precise and adapted to a balance spring.
  • the invention relates to a regulating member for a horological movement comprising an oscillating mass, for example a balance, a balance spring comprising a flexible strip coiled on itself in several turns, the strip having a predefined rigidity to enable the oscillating mass to perform a rotary oscillatory movement, the strip comprising an outer end.
  • an oscillating mass for example a balance
  • a balance spring comprising a flexible strip coiled on itself in several turns, the strip having a predefined rigidity to enable the oscillating mass to perform a rotary oscillatory movement
  • the strip comprising an outer end.
  • the regulating member comprises an elastic device for compensating for the external pressure, connecting the external end of the strip to a first support that is immobile with respect to the horological movement, the elastic compensation device being configured to adapt its stiffness according to the external pressure in order to compensate for the effect of external pressure on the regulating member.
  • the prestressing means exert a variable force or torque on the elastic element of the elastic compensation device according to the pressure, so that the regulating member substantially keeps precise running despite significant changes to the pressure.
  • the prestressing means modify the force or torque exerted on the resilient element so as to modify the stiffness of the assembly comprising the resilient element and the balance spring.
  • the rate of the regulating member is adjusted.
  • the resilient device is mechanically impacted to adjust the rate of the balance spring to this change.
  • the effective rigidity of the resonator includes the rigidity of the strip and the rigidity of the resilient element.
  • the variable force or torque allows the resilient element to be prestressed, preferably without prestressing the strip and without displacing the end of the strip. By prestressing the resilient element, the rigidity thereof changes, whereas the rigidity of the strip remains unchanged since it is not prestressed and since the end thereof is not displaced.
  • the rigidity of the resonator (rigidity of the strip and rigidity of the resilient element) changes, which thus modifies the rate of the resonator.
  • the resilient element being preferably more rigid than the strip, the contribution of the flexibility of the resilient element in the rigidity of the whole is lower than that of the strip.
  • a modification in the rigidity of the resilient element modifies the rigidity of the whole resonator, and thus finely regulates the rate thereof, allowing the frequency of our time base to be precisely adjusted. Great precision in the maintenance of running according to pressure is thus obtained.
  • the elastic compensation device comprises an elastic element arranged between the external end of the strip and the immobile support, as well as prestressing means for applying a variable force or torque to the elastic element according to the external pressure.
  • the prestressing means comprise a spring part connected to the resilient element, the spring part transmitting the force or torque to the resilient element.
  • the prestressing means comprise an aneroid capsule the volume of which varies according to the external pressure, so as to transmit a variable force or torque according to the external pressure.
  • the aneroid capsule comprises a movable wall and a non-movable wall connected by at least one spring.
  • the spring part comprises a first flexible blade connected to the resilient element.
  • the spring part comprises a translation stage connected to the first flexible blade, the aneroid capsule being in contact with the translation stage.
  • the resilient part comprises a first movable element connected to the first flexible blade, and a second movable element, the first movable element and the second movable element being connected by a pair of parallel flexible blades.
  • the spring part comprises a second flexible blade connected to the aneroid capsule.
  • the resilient element comprises a suspended point-shaped body and a pair of non-crossing blades connecting the suspended point-shaped body to the first stationary support.
  • the prestressing means are connected to the suspended point-shaped body to exert the force or torque on the suspended point-shaped body.
  • the regulating member comprises means for regulating the prestressing means to apply a variable force on the prestressing means, for example on the first elongate movable element.
  • the regulating member extends substantially in the same plane, except for the oscillating mass.
  • the invention also relates to a horological movement including such a regulating member.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows a cross-section plan view of a first embodiment of a regulating member provided with means for compensating for the pressure
  • FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-section plan view of a second embodiment of a regulating member provided with means for compensating for the pressure.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 each show an embodiment of a regulating member 1 , 10 according to the invention, the regulating member 1 , 10 comprising a resilient device 50 configured for compensating for a variation in pressure exerted on the regulating member 1 , 10 .
  • Such regulating members 1 , 10 are intended to be arranged in a horological movement to regulate it.
  • the regulating member 1 , 10 comprises a balance spring provided with a flexible strip 2 wound about itself in a plurality of turns.
  • the flexible strip 2 comprises an outer end 9 and an inner end 8 .
  • the regulating member 1 , 10 comprises an oscillating weight, for example an annular balance, not shown in the figures, which is connected to the inner end 8 of the strip 2 , the strip 2 having a predefined rigidity to enable the oscillating weight to undergo a rotary oscillatory motion.
  • the oscillating weight comprises an axial rotating shaft, the inner end 8 of the strip 2 being connected to said shaft.
  • the regulating member 1 , 10 extends substantially in the same plane, except for the oscillating weight, which oscillates in a parallel plane above the balance spring.
  • the regulating member 1 , 10 comprises a resilient device 50 for compensating for an external parameter, which device is configured to adapt the stiffness of the resilient element 5 as a function of the pressure so as to compensate for the effect of pressure on the regulating member 1 , 10 .
  • the elastic compensation member 50 is configured to adapt its stiffness according to the variations in the surrounding pressure in order to compensate for the effect of these variations on the balance spring.
  • the elastic compensation device 50 preferably has a stiffness greater than the strip 2 .
  • the resilient device 50 comprises a resilient element 5 connecting the outer end 9 of the strip 2 to a support 7 that is stationary relative to the horological movement, for example to a fixed plate.
  • the resilient device 50 further comprises prestressing means 6 for applying a variable force or torque to the resilient element 5 as a function of the external parameter.
  • the resilient element 5 comprises, in this case, a suspended point-shaped body 3 and a pair of non-crossing blades 4 connecting the suspended point-shaped body 3 to the stationary support 7 .
  • the suspended point-shaped body 3 is, for example, a cylindrical body with a height substantially equal to the diameter, with the non-crossing blades 4 extending from the suspended point-shaped body 3 as far as the stationary support 7 .
  • the resilient element 5 is arranged in the continuation of the flexible strip 2 , the balance spring and the resilient element 5 being adjacent, but while avoiding contact during the oscillation of the oscillating weight.
  • the prestressing means 6 are configured to exert the force or torque on the suspended point-shaped body 3 .
  • the stiffness of the elastic device is modified since the prestressing means 6 modify the stiffness of the non-crossed blades 4 .
  • the prestressing means 6 comprise a spring part provided with a single flexible blade 11 connected to the suspended point-shaped body 3 .
  • the single flexible blade 11 extends in the axis of the resilient element, tangentially to the balance spring, and is slightly offset with respect to the outer end 9 .
  • the spring part is furthermore configured to undergo a variable force or torque that is transmitted to the elastic element 5 .
  • the spring part of the prestressing means 6 comprises a translation stage 33 provided with a first L-shaped movable element 12 and a second support 18 that is stationary relative to the movement.
  • the first movable element 12 is connected to the single flexible blade 11 by one end of a first arm of the L shape.
  • the second arm of the L shape includes a rounded protrusion 53 on the outer side.
  • the translation stage 33 comprises two substantially parallel flexible blades 14 connecting the first movable element 12 to the second stationary support 18 .
  • the prestressing means 6 comprise an aneroid capsule.
  • Such a capsule is generally used for measuring atmospheric pressure.
  • the capsule comprises a space at least partly void of air, and comprises a resilient return element of the spring type in the space to hold a movable wall of the capsule.
  • the aneroid capsule comprises a volume that is variable according to the external pressure.
  • the aneroid capsule comprises a movable wall 13 and a non-movable wall 15 .
  • An airtight chamber not shown on the figures, makes it possible to at least partly create the vacuum inside the movable 13 and non-movable 15 walls.
  • the non-movable wall 15 is non-movable with respect to the movement, and is for example secured to a plate or to a fixed plate bridge.
  • the non-movable wall 15 here has a diagrammatical parallelepiped shape.
  • the movable wall 13 also has a diagrammatical parallelepiped shape, the movable wall 13 being arranged facing the non-movable wall 15 .
  • the aneroid capsule furthermore comprises a spring 16 connecting the movable 13 and non-movable walls 15 , which form the elastic return element of the aneroid capsule.
  • the spring 16 is disposed between the movable 13 and non-movable 15 walls.
  • the spring 16 extends, in particular when the pressure drops, or contracts, in particular when the pressure increases. Thus it moves the movable wall 13 closer to or further away from the non-movable wall 15 .
  • the spring part of the prestressing means 6 is connected to the aneroid capsule, the spring part transmitting the force or torque from the aneroid capsule to the point-shaped body 3 of the resilient element 5 .
  • the function of the translation stage 33 is to transform the separation distance of the capsule into a stressing force for the point-shaped body 3 .
  • the movable wall 13 moves closer to or further away from the non-movable wall 15 .
  • the movable element 12 of the translation stage 33 is subject to a greater or lesser thrust force towards the resilient element 5 , this force being transmitted to the point-shaped body 3 via the single flexible blade 11 .
  • the prestressing means 6 exert a variable thrust force on the resilient element 5 . Consequently the stiffness of the resilient element 5 varies, and makes it possible to adapt the running of the balance to the external pressure conditions to keep the precision of the regulating member.
  • the movable wall 13 moves closer to the non-movable wall 15 .
  • This moving closer gives rise to a reduction in the thrust force on the point-shaped body 3 , which is exerted by the prestressing means 6 .
  • the stiffness of the resilient element 5 is increased.
  • the regulating member 10 comprises a balance spring, an oscillating weight (not shown in the figure), a resilient element 5 , and a first flexible blade 11 that is identical to the first embodiment.
  • the spring part of the preloading means 6 comprises a first elongate movable element 22 , connected to the flexible blade 11 and disposed in the continuation thereof.
  • the spring part comprises a first pair of parallel flexible blades 25 arranged on the same side, and connects the first movable element 22 to a second movable element 28 .
  • the second movable element 28 is laterally connected to an aneroid capsule 15 by a second flexible blade 21 substantially parallel to the first movable element 22 when the regulating member 10 is in the rest position.
  • a second pair of parallel flexible blades 26 connects the second movable element 28 to a third element 27 that is immobile with respect to the horological movement.
  • the second pair of parallel flexible blades 26 and the third movable element 27 being arranged in series with the second pair of parallel flexible blades 25 and the second movable element 28 .
  • the third non-movable element 27 is for example secured to a fixed plate.
  • Regulation means such as a screw, may be added to exert a force 59 on the first movable element 22 .
  • the regulating means allow the sensitivity of the prestressing means 6 to be regulated as a function of pressure.
  • the second flexible blade 21 transmits a displacement to the second movable element 28 , which transmits it to the first movable element 22 via the second pair of parallel flexible blades 25 .
  • the first movable element 22 is guided by the first translation stage 33 to transmit the force or torque to the resilient element 5 through the first flexible blade 11 .
  • the pressure variation will cause a variation in the volume of the aneroid capsule 15 , and therefore a modification to the stiffness of the resilient element 5 and to the running of the regulating member 10 .
  • the invention further relates to a horological movement, not shown on the figures, the movement comprising a rotary regulating member 1 , 10 as described previously.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Atmospheric Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Springs (AREA)
US18/450,028 2022-08-19 2023-08-15 Horological regulating member with balance spring provided with pressure-compensating means Pending US20240061377A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22191188.6 2022-08-19
EP22191188.6A EP4325302A1 (fr) 2022-08-19 2022-08-19 Organe réglant d'horlogerie a ressort-spiral muni de moyens de compensation de la pression

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20240061377A1 true US20240061377A1 (en) 2024-02-22

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ID=83081128

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US18/450,028 Pending US20240061377A1 (en) 2022-08-19 2023-08-15 Horological regulating member with balance spring provided with pressure-compensating means

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20240061377A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4325302A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2024028142A (fr)
CN (1) CN117590726A (fr)

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR410898A (fr) * 1909-12-14 1910-06-01 Frederic Ecaubert Perfectionnements apportés aux régulateurs d'échappement pour horlogerie
CH704687B1 (fr) 2011-03-23 2015-11-30 Lvmh Swiss Mft Sa Organe réglant pour pièce d'horlogerie.
EP4009115A1 (fr) * 2020-12-02 2022-06-08 Omega SA Ressort-spiral pour mécanisme résonateur d horlogerie muni de moyens d'ajustement de la rigidité

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Publication number Publication date
EP4325302A1 (fr) 2024-02-21
JP2024028142A (ja) 2024-03-01
CN117590726A (zh) 2024-02-23

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